Oct

14

I am still enjoying a photography class that I have been participating in– the prompt was for us to find something that was “still lingering”

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The prompt from last week was to share something that was “Precious and unexpected” to us…

He was 5 yrs old; as I unwrapped it he told me I should have something “pretty and not something to clean with.”

This was 25+ years ago… he had just gone shopping with his Dad who had bought me a vacuum.

It’s plastic and still one of my most cherished gifts ever.

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For this mono-tone shot — the assignment was to keep it simple with few colors. I love the many grasses that surround us.

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Today will be our FINAL — Friday Finding Beauty.

It’s been so much fun meeting you all on Fridays and seeing all the glorious things you find Beautiful in your life.

I know that this time of year it is just crazy in many of your lives— I appreciate all of you lovelies who tried to remember to join us on Fridays– but the number’s have been dwindling and the last thing I want any of my friends to HAVE to do — is feel obligated to participate.

I certainly will be here in blog land– joining in with many of you in the various memes.

Be sure to register to my RSS feed (located on the side bar — the Far right ORANGE button.) All you have to do is enter your email address and it will remind you when I post something. AND — ahhh heck if you can’t get that to work, just check back now and then and see what’s new!

I know many of you don’t turn up your music — but just for today — turn on your music and listen to this cute lil song I found JUST for today.

Please post your link for today — and comment if you want to.

I adore you! You are certainly something I found every Friday that was BEAUTIFUL!

None the less, there in a huge metal tube, along with my luggage (that I had to pay $25.00 extra to check— this will be another topic of conversation)

I sat looking out the window this past week. The clouds were fluffy and fast changing. It is such a different perspective about our world from up there.

I had never been to Portland and went there for a workshop.

I learned tons!

… Mostly I learned that I have a lot to learn.

I arrived late in the evening—I had reserved a mid sized car but this big Guy was all that was available — the Rental girl called it her “Mafia” car! (lucky for me there was no dead body in the trunk.)

One of the BEST items I rented was the Garmin! This little gem helped me get around Portland with not one twinge of worry.

The weather and scenery was perfecto!

This bridge was just out the door of my hotel.

I had one suggestion to go to the Pearl District— but the Garmin couldn’t find it with me just typing in those words, so I just took a ride up and down some very cool streets. I came upon a street that had some interior design stores and cafes, I parked and started walking.

To mark my car I looked at the street sign… 🙂 Wow… another perfect example of how the Universe has always got a way of giving you what you put out there.

Cafe’s were on every street corner… I couldn’t help but notice a very busy one with smiling happy patrons! Smiles = good food and happy people.

Come to find out it was a Peruvian Restaurant– I had no idea what to order… so I told my waiter to bring me what he knew was fantastic.

Voila! Look at what was delivered.

See that purple and yellow tower? While I really couldn’t understand everything that was explained to me… it was something along the lines of potato salad atop some chicken salad.

That was unbelievably yummy… as well as the others.

Admittedly, I get a wee nervous venturing off by myself… but I was blessed by this new adventure. If I push myself, I am seldom disappointed at the view I get from another perspective.

Jun

10

She would often say… “this looks like the Psycho house!” She, being my darling sister– we call her Beeb. She really really disliked the color of this house. In fact she thought last Halloween it was perfect for the scary one on the block. (this is where you would see me simply shaking my head back and forth… you are nutzzz Beeb… it’s a nice house.)

So, she went on a quest! Beeb and Popz happen to live in a community where they have VERY strict CCnR’s (did I say STRICT???) as in you sometimes see the community police slinking through the neighbor hood checking to see if you have planted a flower you didn’t get permission to plant. Ok, it’s not THAT bad… but almost.

Beeb drove around her community for a month I swear, and practically wore her lil eye balls out deciding on the color scheme for her house… then they had to go to the board to get approved…sigh… after a couple of tries… FINALLY they got the go ahead to change the paint color — and it started to rain– another delay.

Finally the transition began. These painters were awesome– they did such a great job.

This is a great shot to show the REAL contrast I thought.

At last!! Complete — I love it to pieces. The neighbors who often are out walking in the evening would stop by with their wonderful complements. They loved to see the progress.

… And of course there are the details (it’s all in the details) that Beeb is so gifted with. She totally refurbished this clock inside and out and moved it from one place to another so cars passing by could see the clock a bit more easily.

These little critters are just adorable.

Bottom line the house looks GREAT… but it’s not just a house… This house is filled with love that oozes out!

They love one another and every day spending time doing for others is what they are all about.

It’s the love and beauty in this house that makes it a home. (above- Ms J and her Son C –Beeb and Popz Daughter and Grandson.)

May

13

***I added a NEW FOLLOWER button (see the right side bar below the music player)– if you get a minute I would love you to follow me, and leave me a comment so I can do the same for you! ***

For years and years I have kept a journal. I recall one of my English teachers telling our class that if we kept a journal, some day we could look back and see how far we had come.

That concept, in part, was why I started DipityRoad. One recurring theme through all the years of keeping my journal has been my constant yearning to “become a better me”.

A couple of weeks ago I finished reading Geneen Roth’s Women Food and God. I took one entire rainy day and stayed in and read and cried and became inspired. Then Oprah had Geneen on her show yesterday. This woman had me spot on. The women on their video journals could have been me.

Day after day, while I put on a smile and greet most with a positive me, I realized I have been a fraud for most of my life. The voice inside my brain tells me daily that I am ugly, not good enough and certainly don’t deserve to be loved.

I have tried more ways (reading every parenting book or marriage rescue guides to tons of self help) to become a better me– it wasn’t until I read Geneen’s book did I realize that for the most part I have been trying to not face or feel my pain. I am the head Ostrich — putting my head in the sand thinking that if I don’t look at the pain it will go away. So goes my relationship with food.

Like spring and the flowers that follow many of us share the same belief… We want to become what we were born to be; to bloom and grow and inspire.

I have got to stop my daily mantras in my head — I have to face my pain.

Never before has my favorite quote been more profound than right now.

“When you change the way you look at things– the things you look at change.”

I intend to be that change!

Like the lyrics of Defying Gravity— I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game.

If we think for one moment its about the food — we are wrong. (but then like one of the titles in her book says… Its Not not about the food)

Whether you have any issues with food, depression, alcohol, drugs; this book hits right at the core. It all stems from how we view ourselves and whether we think we deserve love and kindness.

Have you read her book? I would love to hear your feelings.

Join with me as I work on my pain and find the love, kindness and beauty we all deserve.

By the Way here are her food guidelines.

Eat when you are hungry.

Eat sitting down in a calm environment. This does not include the car.